Effects of different crown densities on structure of Quercus wutaishanica populations in Huanglong Mountains, Northwest China

Research on Quercus wutaishanica (Liaodong oak) populations in Huanglong Mountains reveals that crown density of 0.7 optimizes population structure and growth, offering ideal conditions for silvicultural practices in Northwest China. The study analyzed age structure, survival curves, height classes, and crown size across 16 plots with varying densities (0.6–0.9) and slopes (sunny vs. shady). Findings indicate that saplings dominate at all densities but face bottlenecks during the juvenile stage, while larger trees thrive more in shady environments. Sunny slopes show higher proportions of younger stages, whereas shady slopes favor mature trees. Crown density 0.7 consistently supports healthier population dynamics, suggesting it as a target for sustainable forest management.

YU Shichuan, 于世川, ZHANG Wenhui, 张文辉, LI Gang, 李罡, YANG Bin, 杨斌, & YU Biyun, 余碧云. (2017). Effects of different crown densities on structure of Quercus wutaishanica populations in Huanglong Mountains, Northwest China. Acta Ecologica Sinica, 37(5). https://doi.org/10.5846/stxb201509251971